With a view of raising voice against intolerance and promoting freedom of expression, a consultation was organised by the Odisha Forum for Social Action (OROSA) in collaboration with the Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR) involving civil society groups here on Monday.
Speakers opined that at a time when many Rights wing organisations are protesting intolerance, it is important to save the critical space for dissent and dialogue which is crucial for the democracy to grow.
“It is high time when we should understand that India is a multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious and justice-loving democratic country. We need to understand the linkages between growing disparity, increasing intolerance, militarism, inflation and corporate notion of development,” said OROSA convenor Ajay Kumar Singh. To build a resistance from political and intellectual point of view, it is imperative for all of us to join hands, he added.
“What is happening in India is completely unacceptable. The society has become more polarized and the Government is doing little to relieve the minorities from the fear. They cannot panel up on minorities because of their religious faiths and passing around false testimonies about Christianity, Islamic,” said former Principal of Sambalpur Government College Prof Anthony Nag.
Odisha Peace Builders Forum convenor Abhishek Dash also spoke on the occasion.
Notably, several writers of national and international repute, including renowned poet Jayanta Mahapatra, have raised their voice against the growing intolerance in the country during the last two months by returning awards.